Valve-operating mechanism



F. McLEAN.

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 1 58.8, 1921.

1 ,395,8 5 1 Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

1 i2 2 11 .4. 13 4 8 I z a I I i I I2 14 E51 McLEd/V BY A TTORNEYS VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Application filed February 8, 1921. Serial No. 443,409.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANoIs B. MOLEAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of @cean Grove, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Valve-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a valve construc tion, and aims moreparticularly to provide an apparatus serving to operate valves of internal combustion engines. 7

in connection with internal combustion engines, itis a well appreciated fact that the power developed by the engine isproportionate within certain limits to the opening afforded the intake and exhaust valves.

With this in view, and to produce an engine capable of maximum power and quick acceleration, manufacturers often utilize relatively large exhaust and intake ports, together with corresponding valves governing the flow of fluid through these ports.

However, when the valve and its operating mechanism are once in position the power developed by the engine may be varied only .by means of opening'or closing the throttle valve, and changing the time of the ignition.

7 Thus a motor is produced which is extremely economical in operation, in that it is capable ofdeveloping an excess of power when this is necessary, it being noted that the operator may adjust the parts to permit of the motor producing just that degree of power which is required, thus providing a motor which is extremely economical in operation.

Having this in mind I have now pro vided certain mechanism which will permit of the power of the motor being varied within certain limits.

Thus an operator will be capable of causing an operation of the motor with the utmost economyQwhere a relatively small amount of poweris required, but when the necessity arises it will be possible for the operator to increase the power output to such an extentas to develop the maximum efficiency from the motor.

Further objects of my invention will appear in the annexed specification and drawings, which latter present one practical embodiment of my invention, and in which;

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view taken through a motor block and illustratingmore particularly the upperend of one of the cylinders with its associated mechamsm.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the. block.

Fig. 3 is a plan View thereof,'and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4l of Fig. 3.

it is well understood in connection with internal combustion engines that two engines possessing the same stroke, and bore will produce a different H. P. if the valves of one of the engines permit of a freer flow of fluid, through the ports which they control, than the valves of the second engins. This is true, if this freedom of flow is to be a result of either a larger valve and seat therefor or if the valve, when wide open, clears the part which it controls. In

either of these latter instances a quicker scavenging and suction is permitted upon the corresponding strokes of the engine taking place, in that a minimum of lag and corresponding minimum of back pressure will occur during the suction and exhaust strokes of the engine, thus increasing the power of the same.

Having this in mind, I avail myself of the same, in that I aim to'provide certain means which may be controlled in any de sirable manner, such as by the operator, which will permit of a motor being run in such a manner that it will normally present minimum opening for the passage of the combustible mixture and products of combustion, which opening may however, be varied so that a maximum of a combustible, mixture may be sucked into the cylinder, and a practically instantaneous scavenging stroke may be effected, both of these strokes being effected with a minimum of effort on the part of the motor.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings it will be seen that the reference numeral 5 indicates a cylinder providing aport 6, the flow of fluid through which is controlled by means of a valve 7, all of these parts being of any desirable construction.

In the usual manner also, a valve stem 8 is spring controlled, as has been indicated by the reference numeral 9 to normally effect a seating of the valve 7, and a valve tappet l0 operated in any desirable manner serves to effect an opening of the valve 7 by means of a rocker arm 11.

All of these parts may be of any desired construction, and may be arranged according to the type 01"? motor with which they are to be associated, but according to my improved construction it will be noted that contrary to the conventional construction, each of the rocker arms 11, together with the standards 12 'swingingly mounting the same, are movable transverse of the cylinder by any suitable provision, such as utilizing a plate 13 slidably mounted upon keyways 14, it being noted, as has been indicated in Fig. 1, that certain portions of the plate 13 may provide teeth 15 engaging with the teeth 16 of a gear mounted upon the shaft 17.

Thus it will be appreciated that a rotation of the shaft 17 will result in a transverse shifting of plate 13, and this rotation may be effected by any suitable type of control (not shown).

It will be noted, reference being had to Figs. 1 and 3, that the plate 13 is shown at a position extremely intermediate its limits of movement, and it will thus be seen that the throw of the stem 8 willbe equivalent to the movement of the tappet 10. Assuming however, that the plate 13 is shifted in either directionit will be noted that the throw of the stem 8 will be increased or decreased in direct ratio to the position of theplate.

Thus if the plate is moved to the right, ref-.

erence being had to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the working length of the right hand portion of the rocker arm 11 will be shortened, thus correspondingly shortening the clearance of the valve 7, and restricting the flow of fluid through the port 6. If the plate is shifted to the left however, it will be seen that the working length of the left hand portion of the rocker arm will be shortened and that of the right hand portion lengthened. Thus a maximum amount of clearance on the part of the valve 7 will. result incident to the fact that the stem 8 of the same will be moved to its extreme position.

, From the foregoing it will be appreciated that l have provided a structure whereby the well known law of operation governing internal combustion engines may be available to each operator, in that a minimum of clearance may be permitted to be effected by both the intake and exhaust valves when but little power is required, but by means of which the valves may be opened to' their 7 means may be gaged to a nicety thus insuring a most economical operation of the entire motor. 1

It will also be understood that the structure may be varied according to the method in which the valves are mounted, type of motor, and the constructionof the valves, and thus it will be seen that obviously numerous modifications of structure might readily be resorted to without in the least departing from the spirit of my invention, which I claim as:

1. A valve operating mechanism, including in combination with a cylinder having ports, valves for controlling said ports, and tappets for operating said valves, of trans versely movable standards mounted upon said cylinder and rocker arms movably carried by said standards and extending between said tappet and valves.

2. A valve operating mechanism, including a cylinder having ports, valves for controlling said ports, and tappets, of a plate transversely movable mounted upon said 7 7 cylinder and rocker arms secured to said plate and extending between said tappet and valve.

8. A valve operating mechanism, includ ing in combination with a cylinder'having ports, valves for controlling said ports, and 0 tappets for operating said valves, of'trans versely movable standards slidably mounted upon said cylinderand rocker arms mov ably carried by said standards and extending between said tappet andvalve.

4:. A. valve. operating mechanism, including in combination with a cylinder having ports, valves for controlling said ports and tappets for operating said valves, of transversely movable standards slidably mounted upon said cylinder, rocker arms movable carried by said standards and extending be tween said tappet and valve, and means for moving said standards. v c

5. A valve operating mechanism including in combination with a cylinder having ports, valves for controlling said ports, and tappets for operating said valves, of a plate Q slidably mounted upon said cylinder, standards rigidly carried by said plate and rocker arms movably carried by said standards and engaging said tappets, and valves,1respectively, and means for moving said plate.

6. A valve operating mechanism including in combination withjacylinder having plate, and means for rotating said shaft whereby to move said plate.

rnANcis BYRON McLEAN. 

